Tag: Gong Hyo Jin

This new project of mine is a useful guide since you have decided to join the kdramaaddict community. Kdramaworld has been running for quite a while so I’ll share you the dramas that you need to complete and you might have missed along the way.

Since we are celebrating the love month, let’s commence this bucket listing activity with trendy romantic comedy dramas. These stories are typically what initiated your kdrama cravings.

The sighs, the swoons, the squeals, the hot flushes, the involuntary parting of our lips on the kiss scenes, the hot oppas, the we-wish-we-can-be-the-leadgirl-moments… There are a lot of reasons why we love these kind of dramas. Most of the dramas in this list are runaway hits, others have sweet chemistry between the main leads. These are love pills that we can watch over and over again every year, and yet we don’t get tired of it. These are my favorite fan service romcoms, what’s on your list?

♥My Name is Kim Sam Soon (Hyun Bin and Kim Sun Ah)

Sam Soon’s love adventure gave hope to girls with weight insecurities that they can still snatch the man of their dreams as not all men are blinded by pretty faces and hot bodies. *chuckles

This is where I first met Hyun Bin oppa and I fell in love with his then chubby cheeks. *lol I was on my early 20’s when this was aired, and I was not hooked at that time. But when I watched it in my late 20’s, I was able to appreciate it more because the heroine’s sentiments appealed to me probably because I was at the stage of my life when I endured love frustrations and experienced being blissfully in love.

This is my first dose of contract relationship and it endeared me a lot as it left a love lesson that no matter how extremely different a man and a woman is, spending time together and getting to know each other in the process would warrant a leap of romantic emotion that can result to a sweet love declaration.

♥ Full House (Rain and Song Hye Gyo)

The modern Cinderella story of an aspiring scriptwriter and a famous actor who were forced to cohabitate when the former’s friends sold the house she inherited from her father. We get a contract marriage plot in this love story which pushed the romance between a man and a woman who seemed unlikely to fall in love with each other.

The bickering scenes and the eventual falling in love were the strongest points of Full House. The feel good premise still make me pick this drama when I don’t have anything on my plate to watch.

♥ Princess Hours (Joo Ji Hoon and Yoon Eun Hye)

Any princess story appeals to most girls right away. With a distant and yet secretly warm prince portrayed nicely by Joo Ji Hoon oppa, I can’t help but love the nines on the clouds of high when I was watching Lee Shin and Chae Kyung’s royal love story.

My pillows suffered a lot from strangulation on the emotional and heart fluttering scenes. Actually Goong had mostly melodramatic tones, but it was neutralized by the lead girl’s vibrant presence and optimism to survive in the arranged marriage she was forced to take for the sake of her family.

This is one youth drama you should not miss as it is one of the kdrama staple classics.

♥ My Girl (Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae)

I know right? Contracts are often part of kdrama plots. For “My Girl”, we have a business conglomerate heir hiring a con-woman to pretend as his long-lost cousin to appease his ill grandfather, but ended up trapped in the lie they created when they started falling in love with each other.

The strong second leads supported well the romantic development by playing well the annoying ex-girlfriend and the how-could-you-not-love-him second lead man.

“My Girl” had a consistently addictive run and nicely done closure credit it to the bubbly heroine and her chemistry with the workaholic lead man chaebol.

I think this is where I first saw that lead-man-following-drunk-lead-girl scene which became a guaranteed cute scene on rom-coms.

♥ The First Shop of Coffee Prince (Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye)

This cross-dressing heroine and coffee shop owner’s love ride slayed the ratings with the unique premise on how their romance was imagined.

It was so cute when Gong Yoo’s character disregarded everything and was okay to admit that he could possibly be a homosexual due to his growing feelings on his pretending-to-be-a-man lead girl.

Coffee Prince’s ending was also sweet as it wrap up with how the lead man let go of his girl for the mean time to pursue her own dreams. This is a must-watch grandpa classic that will not lose its appeal even after a few decades from now.

♥ Boys Over Flowers (Lee Min Ho and Gu Hye Sun)

Almost Paradise… Yay! This is Lee Min Ho’s breakthrough performance that swept hallyuland like a storm during its run. Finally adapting the famous Japanese manga, the Korean version gave a pretty depiction of the rich-boy-poor-girl love story by projecting an elaborated presentation of the wealth disparity of the main love couple. Sprinkling it with the flower boy bromance and their side love stories cemented a victorious run for this youth drama.

“Boys over Flowers” is a great initiating drama to welcome you in kdramaland. It is feel-good, buoyant and everything sweet perfect on movie marathon sessions and rainy days.

♥ My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (Shin Min Ah and Lee Seung Gi)

Fusing Korean folklore to a modern lovestory was notched perfectly by chilsung cider addicted Mi Ho and her action star wanna-be lead guy. When a nine-tailed fox was released from a painting she was imprusoned to, she sealed a deal with a free spirited guy who does not have any dream but to become an action star.

The arresting face and portrayal of Shin Min Ah made Mi Ho one of my all-time favorite kdrama characters. Hong sisters blended the supernatural and folklore premise in this drama in an innovative approach to complement the modern setting.

This is where I first saw the reversal of roles for the lead couple. The always curious heroine took charge in taking care of her lead man in the most part of the story.

The quirky interaction of the lead couple until reaching the eventual love zone was something you would root for while you are watching the narrative.

♥ You’re Beautiful (Jang Geun Seuk and Park Shin Hye)

When her twin brother met an accident, Go Mi Nyu, a nun-to-be was forced to assume her brother’s identity (Go Mi Nam) who was posed to join a famous boyband. Having spent most of her time in the convent Mi Nam worked hard to adapt in a new world of cohabiting with her fellow band members.

There are a lot to love about ANJELL and the main lead couple. The second lead also made an impressive showing to shake the official love pairing.

“You’re Beautiful” was brimming with witty humor and sweet scenes which propelled its run to a strong fanbase. I think this is also was the start of me stalking Hong sisters dramas.

♥ You’ve Fallen For Me (Park SHin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa)

This youth drama set in a Music school was the fulfilment of the second love pairing that we did not get from “You’re Beautiful”. The refreshing tone and the campus romance drew smiles and sigh in me as Lee Shin suited up to his campus hearthrob role effortlessly and effectively.

The music, the youthful vibe, the college setting dates endeared this drama to me. Maybe because it just went free flowing and did not exert effort in placing overly conceived central conflict. “You’ve Fallen For Me” is light and comforting perfect for your stoic days.

♥ Discovery of Love (Eric Moon and Jung Yu Mi)

Now this was not as popular as the rest of the dramas in this list, but it belonged to my all-time favorite love dramas because of its superb screenplay and storytelling.

Yeorum is a furniture maker who was caught between her present boyfriend and her first love. “Discovery of Love” took an ingenious path to uncover the woes and inhibitions of a woman in confronting love confusions that involved weighing down the amount of pain and love you are prepared to invest in a relationship.

You will thank me later after you watch it.

♥ Another Oh Hae Young (Eric Moon and Seo Hyun Jin)

Yes I think I can declare that I stalk Eric oppa’s dramas as he mostly pick interestingly done projects.

Another Oh Hae Young was the best romance drama for 2016 banking on its realistic approach on the frustrations and bliss of trusting the love willingly given to someone only to be disappointed for not reciprocating it well.

The hot kisses, the brave heroine and the weird journey on how fate intertwined the love couples were some of the things you would love in this drama.

♥ Legend of the Blue Sea (Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun)

Freshly caught from the kdrama sea, this mermaid-conman romance gave us laugh fits and heart-fluttering moments. The love-fueled-mind-reading ability of Heo Joon Jae was a favorite twist of mine in this drama. I got a lot of laugh trips from those scenes.

The writing was almost perfect except from that last episode auto pilot ending. Nevertheless, “Legend of the Blue Sea” will surely warm your heart with the overflowing love vibes sketched in past and present timelines with reincarnation plot on the side.

♥ The Greatest Love (Cha Seung Won and Gong Hyo Jin)

When a top actor, Dokko Jin got entangled to a third-rate actress, a hilarious romance ensues as he battled out his emotions only to succumb to it when an equally adorable traditional doctor wields his intention to be with the lead girl.

This is the third Hong sisters entry on my list and the trademark smart humor on the writing was evident. I loved Cha Seung Won in City Hall and even more in his overconfident character in this story. Gong Hyo Jin as always brings out any character given to her. Her submissive and kind attitude neutralized Dokko Jin’s strong persona and forced him to become a better person worthy to accept and give love.

♥ Rooftop Prince (Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min)

Time-traveling and a clueless Joseon prince who was transported to modern times made me a happy camper on its weekly run because of the Prince and his warriors hilarious adjustments to technology powered way of living.

The romance was an added bonus, but when I look back it is really the cute bromance that sealed this drama in my kdrama memory compartment.

You have two wonderful love pairings to indulge on and an extra equally sweet bromance for dessert. What more can you ask for?

Drawn in folklore and chimeric premise, consider Goblin as a karmic prize for kdramaaddicts’ loyal following. The polished storytelling and amazing cast portrayal nailed a quintessential drama that you can share with your grandchildren in the future.

♥ Reply 1997 (Seo In Gook and Jung Eun Ji)

I chose the first story from the Reply Franchise as it gave an impressive showing of a first love story as well as friendship turned romance narrative. Nostalgic in its projection, “Reply 1997” will give anyone a trip back to those wistful memories of their young, unrequited love.

♥ The Master’s Sun (So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin)

My final Hong sisters drama on the list went to a spooky millieu and was successful in doing so. A ghost-seeing woman has been burdened by her ability all her life. When she finally bumped with the person who can shield her from the compelling ghost request she keeps getting with and without her warrant, she stuck by the prickly rich department store owner and soon after developed a relationship with him.

“Master’s Sun” exhibited the usual comedic and romantic writing brilliance of the Hong sisters. I meant to watch this before because of So Ji Sub oppa and I got more than I asked for.

♥ Queen In Hyun’s Man (Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo Inna)

Abby’s Man aka Queen In Hyun’s Man stirred an excitement in me due to its avant-garde story of a time traveling Joseon scholar who utilized his talisman powered time-space wrinkling ability to hide in the present time while brewing his next moves on fulfiling his duty to the deposed Joseon Queen.

An actress helped him to adapt to contemporary living and they eventually fell in love with each other. “Queen In Hyun’s Man” was hip and fun and affirmed that my decision to eat kdramas for breakfast was valid. *chuckles

♥ Healer (Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young)

“Healer” put me on my longest kdrama character crush. It was so severe that I watched all Ji Chang Wook dramas even the ones that were not worth watching. That’s how much impact the drama gave me.

The love progression was steady and engaging in this drama and you bet I was in dreamy land after that Healer hideout kissing binge. “Healer” is the fulfilment of any adult woman’s ideal man.

♥ Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk)

Credit the cast for their commitment to this coming of age drama. It created an international cult following especially on the teens and the early-twenties. “Weightlifting Fairy” was my first and last kdrama binge for 2016. I initially had reservations if I will put it on my plate, but one night when I don’t have anything scheduled to watch anymore, I took it and was uncaring if I wake up the entire village with my laughter festival.

This is the drama I will make my daughter watch when she goes to college so she can have an idea of the perfect college boyfriend. *wink

♥ Oh My Venus (So Ji Sub and Shin Min Ah)

There were a lot of sighs, swoons, melting moments and heart-stopping arrests when I watched coach-nim and Daegu beauty realized their love potential through a weight loss program.

To reclaim her goddess body, a woman sought the help of a famous weight loss coach to carry on with her project. He was initially adamant about it, but she trapped him by threatening how she will reveal his identity to the world if he does not agree.

“Oh My Venus” oozed with sweet, steamy scenes that will tickle your heart and imagination. If you are on a weightloss program, watch this so coach-nim can inspire you.

♥ Descendants of the Sun (Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Gyo)

Suave and prettily written, Captain Yoo Si Jin won my heart in his cool depiction of a military elite officer who got the girl he dreamt of even when their careers inhibit them to spend quality time with each other.

Thanks to Song-Song couple’s right on the dot chemistry, they were able to pull off a breathtaking lovestory that will be forever loved by many like me.

♥ Something About 1% 2016 (Ha Suk Jin and Jeon So Min)

Cropping unnecessary scenes and light on its conflict, Something About 1 Percent is the exact description of a fan-service drama.

Jae In and Da Hyun’s love story progressed in an addictive pace through their sweet kisses. It is a big, pink bubblewrap drama that will comfort you when you want to be alone after a break-up.

♥ Oh My Ghost (Jo Jung Seok and Park Bo Young)

A virgin ghost hosted on a meek woman’s body to get a formal passport to afterlife. The ghost helped the timid girl worked on the crush she harbored on the Chef of the restaurant she was working. Chef-nim mistook the sudden changes in her personality as a psychological disorder and tried to help on but nurtured emotional feelings in the process.

“Oh My Ghost” was a quirky watch that will give you laugh fit and enough knee-weakening scenes to feed your love cravings.

♥ It’s okay, this is love (Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin)

Kdramaland has displayed refreshing love stories through the years and it keeps getting better. The love story between a famous writer with some psychological issues and a psychiatrist was a runaway hit for me in 2014. And not just because of Jo In Sung oppa, but due to the cast that you can’t help but fall in love.

It’s okay, this is love fulfilled the promise of a lingering chronicle of ardent love. It may not appeal to tweens and young women but I’m sure that women in their 30’s will appreciate it a lot.

♥ Fated to Love You (Jang Hyuk and Jang Na Ra)

When I look back on this drama, I can’t help but remember Jang Hyuk oppa’s outrageous laugh. hahaha

“Fated to love you” tells the story of a one night stand that brought together an unlikely to fall in love couple. Left with no choice they got married, but misunderstandings and losing their baby separated them unfortunately. Years after fate brought them together again and they finally get the validation that they have always been meant to be.

This is probably my favorite Jang Na Ra drama because it achieved a balanced story of how relationships have reasons why they are not meant to be at a particular moment.

♥ A Gentleman’s Dignity (Jang Dong Gun and Kim Ha Neul)

Before the Goblin-GrimReaper Bromance, the brotherhood in this drama was my most favorite. The snappy storyline and side love stories were some of the reasons why I picked this drama. This is one of the earlier dramas from Goblin/DOTS writer so you will get an idea on how she has really worked on her skills over the years.

♥ My Princess (Song Sung Heon and Kim Tae Hee)

The long lost last princess of Korea was found and to prepare her for her royal duties, the grandson of a rich family who nurtured the princess family wealth prepped her up in facing her new responsibilities. Think Princess Diaries + Pretty Woman.

This is the first bribe I got from both the actors to notice them and they were successful in forming a cheery love story.

♥ Myungwol the Spy (Eric Moon and Han Ye Seul)

A serving of a North Korean spy who got entangled emotionally with a South Korean top actor needed nothing else to convince me in watching it.

This is one hilarious romcom spectacle you should not miss.

♥ Personal Taste (Lee Min Ho and Son Ye Jin)

The cute twist of the heroine misconceiving her lead man to be homosexual plus the cohabitation ride that slowly but surely built up the romance, this is the drama that secured Lee Min Ho a slot on my radar as I enjoyed their story immensely.

There are a lot of love and life lessons for women to learn on this drama as Gae In provided her insights on how focusing on personal dreams should come first before frustrations.

A must watch Lee Min Ho drama to add on your plate if you have just recently started liking him.

I swear that curl up sweet scene still make my heart flutters. *chuckles “Secret Garden” showed a reversal of gender roles as we are given a heroine with unfazed attitude who fell in love with a rich man who did everything to make her love him.

Now that I remember the “rain twist”. There’s something about rain that makes it a staple twist in kdrama stories as projected in Goblin, My GF is a Gumiho and Secret Garden. Anyway, I loved Hyun Bin here more than his stint in Samsoon probably because I am more inclined to like unusually imagined story premise.

♥ Sungkyunkwan Scandal (Park Yoo Chun, Park Min Young and Yoo Ah In)

For me “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” is still my best pick for both school and youth drama even when the drama is set in Joseon era. If you are curious why then take some time off and spend time with these scholar flower boys plus the cross dressing heroine.

If you liked the recent Moonlight Drawn by the Clouds, the missing nudges on that drama were effortlessly notched in Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

♥ W: Two Worlds (Lee Jong Suk and Han Hyo Joo)

“W” strode a scintillating first half but fell short on the labyrinth and depth of the ambitious plot the writer conceived. Nonetheless, Kang Chul sweetly haunted my weak heart as he romanced his lady love.

Kang Chul is everyone’s dream guy and more. If you want to forget a recent relationship set back feel free to enter the worlds of Kang Chul.

♥ You From Another Star (Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun)

Since my favorite actress headlined this drama, it was already a given that I secured a spot for my busy time to watch it simultaneously as it aired. In 2015, I let kdramas conclude first before I delve on them. I had to break it because I trusted the girl who brought me to Hallyuland that she was up for a brilliant project. She did not prove me wrong and I was on high savoring the beautiful alien and top actress love story that served as a lesson to current kdrama actresses roster to learn how rom-com should be done. Kim Soo Hyun was a bonus like equivalent to $1 Million dollars. The impeccable chemistry of the lead couple surged a memorable love story that would appeal to anyone.

“You From Another Star” is still my all time top pick for the Best Romcom Drama ever produced in kdramaland.

Sure, there were a lot going on in “Jealousy Incarnate” that sometimes the sporadic mini plots did not equate well to its overall make, but the eager and vibrant cast made up to that missing push the story failed to achieve. Honestly the safe ever-after ending failed to complement those strong moments of the lead cast along with the story conflict they had to face together hilariously and painfully. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the sweet ride and the endearing couple who tackled the friendship defying love chase.

Pyo Na Ri harbored a 3-year one sided love towards Lee Hwa Shin and has been working her stint as a weather forecaster. She chanced upon Hwa Shin again in Thailand where he was assigned after an expose’ revealing his older brother’s business corruption. He was denounced by his family but made the most of his occupational exile by presenting highly successful news probes. When Hwa Shin came back to the TV network news room to work on his goal to become a News Anchor, he begins seeing Na Ri at a different light. Just as he has acknowledged his feelings for her, he learned that his best friend, Go Jung Won likes her too and eventually dated her. He tried so hard to resist his growing feelings toward Na Ri to no avail and his breast cancer did not help him at all as she insisted on staying by his side while battling with the treatment. Hwa Shin’s resolved inevitably broke down and he set loose to claim Na Ri’s heart even if it will hurt his best friend. Hwa Shin’s move confused Na Ri’s heart as she learned that he is loving her back three years too late. Torn between two men whom she both love, she broke up with Jung Won so as not to strain their friendship, but the two cannot seem to find a way to exist not having her by their side so they agreed to live in Jung Won’s house so Na Ri can date them to help her decide whom she loves more between them. Na Ri’s long lost first love emotions eventually resurfaced and she was forced to deliver the sad news to Jung Won of her choosing Hwa Shin.

While I did not fully rave on “Jealousy Incarnate”, there were a few strong scenes that lingered in my mind after watching it. That cute Hwa-Shin-Jung-Won bromance was so quirky, I can bottle it for my PMS days. I love when rom-com dramas focus on the love story conflict, and what a way for “Jealousy” to present a love triangle that did not feed on angst or misplaced and incomprehensible obsession of second leads. Instead it gave out a nice fight between the lead man and second lead who equally deserve the heroine. I don’t know why the finishing kick delved to career drama because I already claimed my closure when Na Ri reverted to following Hwa Shin again, but the latter had to restrict himself out of respect to his best friend’s grieving heart. I don’t know if I can label it as a bland extension or a last-minute attempt to add embellishment on this romantic cake, but I sure did find it pointless. They should have settled to fan service and then zipped it with the chirpy wedding.

The facile interaction of the main trio, prior and after the love conflict, felt hilarious on one side because they were acting like high schoolers in justifying the situation they had and even resorting to that cohabitation settlement to help weigh in where each of them stand.

But that just show how we do unreasonable things when we are too consumed with rationalizing the love we felt. The romantic entanglement amused the girl and the woman inside me because the story clearly depicted how much a woman’s faltering choices affect decisions to commit in a relationship.

Na Ri was firm on her initial stand that she loved both men at the same time, but was just not sure who she loved more, until she got the realization or rather fear of losing Hwa Shin since she can’t contain the growing jealousy anymore. There was no definitive punch on what direction or lesson the story wanted to impart since halfway through it, even the characters seemed not to know where they were heading. That’s mainly the reason why I was disappointed in it. Acting and interaction wise among the cast members, it has great potentials, but the plot did not propel a lingering effect after it ended. The only consolation I got was the supporting cast who were busy and engrossing with what’s going on around their own stories as well.

I think it would have been safe as well if it went to a shorter run because the kind of narrative it circled to was not that complicated to begin with. Though there were a few heartfelt and emotional scenes I really enjoyed, the stagnant progression and dormant conflict made my heart veer away from liking Jealousy Incarnate as a whole.

If you are a Jo Jung Seok or Gong Hyo Jin fan, it is bearable to watch but there’s nothing special to look forward to.-abbyinhallyuland

Just in case you did not see them, I want to share you the delights for the past year as 2016 is already waning. Now I was not able to monitor last year’s drama the way I did this year, so most of it I was able to finish up to the first half of 2016.

HEALER (Dec 2014 – Feb 2015)

GENRES:Drama, Romance, Comedy, Action, Suspense

As a night courier serving privy and expensive tasks, Healer’s routine life changed after his encounter with a woman connected to the death of his father. What made me like the drama a lot is how the storytelling was focused and neatly tied up without room to uncalled for sub plots. It moved engrossingly while uncovering the link of the main characters in the past and their children in the present time.

The story’s main conflict focused on peeling the truth behind the lead couple’s fathers’ death while journeying on their fated love. It aligned to Healer’s character strength to propel the excitement while he did his gripping missions… circled on Young Shin’s character as the focal tug-of-war battle between the Moon brothers’ villain and hero complicated relationship and surged high to the my-father-might-have-killed-your-father-but-i-promise-i-love-you-and-i-will-protect-you love plot of the main leads. Healer justified the superb writing with how the characters went passionately driven to bring out a scintillating storytelling.

While a lot progressed in the story, it never missed it steps in binding the romance, the back story and the conflicts together. It made use of the parallel plot about upright journalists in presenting the same events of the characters in the past and the present.

There were small problems that were laid along the way to boost the main conflict of how the protagonists will bring justice to their fathers’ death by ruining the villains through innovative news broadcast. In this crime-romantic-drama-thriller premise, the story got so intoxicating because it assimilated Healer’s Promethean skills and heartfelt media coverage to battle the conscience-less power players of the country. When your cast is smart and the writing is nifty, there’s no way the notes will not be hit. That is the case for Healer. I would also like to commend how I enjoyed Healer’s theme music on its placement in the drama and how the villains even with their old personas masterfully made the lives of the heroes hard by utilizing their vile ways.

Healer is one of the best dramas you should include in your list if you haven’t seen it yet. It has a brilliant premise about a one-of-a-kind hero who chose to disconnect from the society, but accidentally grew attachment to a woman who drew him out of his hibernation. The drama quaintly linked the furtive relationship of the characters while building up the plot’s climax and romance to perfection. It is so addictive, stimulating and amusing — and that one drama you can sit on with family, friends and even your lover.

Punch (Nov 2014 – Dec 2015)

GENRES:Drama, Legal

Awed and at the edge of my seat every episode’s finishing kick, I can’t help but wondered how brilliant the writer of this story by bringing out a drama where heroes and villains don’t waste time out-manipulating each other to secure the highest possible position befitting to their greed and wickedness. With a dying man as a lead hero in charge to intellectually brawl with his superiors in the Prosecutor’s office, the stake was always at the highest as the people involved raced to protect their families, reputations and personal ambitions.

Punch is a literal badass with its scintillating and intelligent writing. It was full of surprises that will make the viewers grab their hair out of frustration. I wondered how much hate the writer might have stored in himself to motivate him to write a chronicle that was able to maintain a level of grit all throughout his depiction of the corrupt Korean Prosecutors Office.

I thought why the drama was titled Punch, and after finishing, it really lived to that name because every episode was a combat spectacle in cleverness and wiliness . Punch is a story of a dying prosecutor in his quest to clean up the corrupt high officials of the office he belongs to. His strategic thinking defied the power his superiors used when he was on a spree to reveal their evil doings. It was a hard and frustrating battle but he managed to expose the truth before his passing.

What viewers would love about Park Jung Hwan is his ability to bounce back from the oppression even with nothing on his hand to fight off the huge power and walls his superiors built to hinder his outrage. It’s your classic underdog story but very well polished in a Mafia grit kind of way. They made phonecalls, afternoon tea and eating jajangmyun so thrilling in my eyes. hahaha

The antagonists displayed impossible levels of wickedness that even when they got what they deserved at the closing chapter I was still fuming on the inside. There’s no fleeting romantic interlude in this drama but it is filled with family love and lessons about choosing the right decisions in your lives. If you want a dose of serious themed dramas, this one is for you. The thrill and the pace will surely shoot up your mind and will make you crave for some more.

Kill Me, Heal Me (Jan 2015 – Mar 2015)

GENRES: Romance, Comedy

The complexity of the multiple personality disorder fused with the fated but hindered romance of the main couple has made me ruminative deducting the precepts of the story premise of this smartly and quirkily written korean drama. I knew it was all about trauma and I was happy that there was no extreme sacrificial bordering to stupidity acts done by the main leads in avoiding their destined love.

Overall I like the ambitious writing of this drama. It was meticulous in inserting the conflict of the story, although it came to a point when it became too detailed dragging the denouement which they could have used in a few romantic notes in the penultimate episodes of the story.

The sending off of Do Hyun’s characters warmed my heart especially that of Perry Park and Se Gi scenes. I don’t know the extent of this psychiatric condition, but I liked that it was explained well how each characters emerged. It was like Voldemort’s horcruxes in a positive way. *chuckles Typically kdramas with chaebol power struggle plot involved unreasonable conspiracies and surprises so I think since the multiple personality is the carrying story conflict, it was good that it didn’t dwell on the money-filled but problematic chaebol world.

Beautiful in its strongest points and faint weaknesses, this is a perfect drama that will leave you happy and intrigued.

A Girl Who Sees Smells/Sensory Couple (April 2015 – May 2015)

GENRE: Drama, Romance, Suspense, Supernatural

Welcome to the psychopath chase where gripping episode endings build up to a long stretch of sweet annoyance and anticipation to a quaintly written story where the characters boarded on a race to outwit each other and the cost of each wrong judgment equates to starting points of a never-ending labyrinth.

Escaping from the man who murdered her parents, Choi Eun Seol woke up losing her memory and was given another identity by the detective handling a famous serial killer case. Choi Eun Seol became Oh Cho Rim and along with her new life is her ability to know the smell of people through her eyes.

It was that brilliantly executed plot of the protagonists’ taking advantage of the killer’s inability to remember faces and the latter’s resilience in orchestrating evil ploys that drew my appreciation all throughout. There were no unnecessary hassles and side stories written to confuse or to lengthen the narration. The plot was very clear on its premise and has always headed to the direction of uncovering clues without making the protagonists appear dumb. It sailed to a direction of making the viewers go along with the process of pinning the vile psychopath to admit to his crime against the usual dragging guess-the-killer story.

The mushy sweetness here and there, the steady writing, the oneness of the cast and the deviation from the usual kdrama plot stereotypes had me resurrected from my gym induced hiatus to break my kdrama/movie review dry spell. It is a buoyant romcom drama served with a balanced mixture of thrill, comic kicks and romance that I would highly recommend for when you plan a kdrama getaway.

Producers (May 2015 – June 2015)

GENRE: Drama, Comedy, Friendship, Romance

The mixture of the inside production world of variety shows and the characters’ stories were nicely blended but it was the diversity and chemistry of the characters pierced my kdramaaddict heart.

For people expecting Kim Soo Hyun being captured in romantic moments, you won’t expect it in this drama so be prepared. Nevertheless I think for legit kdrama followers you will get what you bargain for in this drama. It’s how we root for Alice in Wonderland and love seeking Disney princesses all at the same time. “Producers” came up in a very interesting format incorporating the variety show world in a drama attack. To achieve that you have to even out the laughter you get from the variety show and the valuable content you should give to the audience.

And I immensely enjoyed the lessons focused in every episode which were derived from the variety program production world. It gave meaningful life lessons and pointed out the challenges and limitations of human nature. When joined together the four main leads were a delightful watch, even in their personal struggles.

Seung Chan is a reminder of any person who was trying to find his niche in the corporate scene regardless if the motivation is absurd, like in his case to follow his first love. He is a reminder of the extent on how much we can persevere and how trying a shot on everything is better than being coward to take a chance on it. Ye Jin is a reminder of how even a person with the coldest exterior has a warm spot hidden in her. Of a person who would be patiently waiting for the love she yearned for than waste her time to nonsense. Joon Mo is a reflection of those times when we built our character through standing firm with our principles and defying the norms for change to happen. Cindy represented each one of us in our highest peak, when we hit a slump, and when we bounce back from it.

As I religiously watch 2D1N, I easily grasped the intentions and love the executions all throughout. True, I might have wished for more love screentime but it superbly fed me stories that I have been on at some point of my life. The engrossing 12 episodes will leave you lessons that basic self-help books have already vaguely discussed. A breather from rom-com and melodramas, Producers will strip any work related stress you are having if you give it a chance.

Beloved Eun Dong (May 2015 – July 2015)

GENRES: Romance, Melodrama

I haven’t completed my full review on this drama yet, but this is one of my favorite romance stories for 2015. I love how the narrative approached me like I was sent back to when I was in High School reading those first love stories that made my heart giddy-ish and warm.

“Beloved Eun Dong” chronicled the love tale between a top actor who found the only girl he loved in his life when she took a job as a ghost writer for the book he wanted to publish in search of his one great love. He learned that Eun Dong lost her memory and was already married with a child to a former baseball player who met an accident and was saddled in a wheelchair. While writing Hyun Soo’s story, flashes of familiarity and memories hit Eun Dong and eventually triggered her memory back. But claiming the love that was deprived of them by her adopted father and husband was no easy task as they faced the controversy of Eun Dong being married legally. To make the matter worse, Eun Dong revealed that her son is Hyun Soo’s, but his son is already attached to the father he was with while growing up.

Divided in 3 parts, Eun Dong and Hyun Soo’s story moved steady from that sweet young love to the complicated re-owning of the divested romance in a way where I was so affected by the enduring commitment of Hyun Soo to love only one woman in his life. I have never seen someone like him in kdramaland. I mean most of the boys surely did love their girls the best way they can, but his story with her left my heart on a painful twinge. Having a villain that was wheelchair bound and acted selfish because of love has had me on a dilemma if I will hate or understand his pain.

This drama will remind you of your greatest love and will prove to you how love is meant to be when you work for it to happen.

Mask (May 2015 – July 2015)

GENRES:Melodrama, Romance, Revenge

For once I got to see a melodrama with a rich family cast not going all war with excessive evil plots to claim the rein of a company, but doing it within the members as what I perceived the rich and famous should have done in reality. “Mask” having dysfunctional characters will entice you by how much it deconstructed the main leads’ motivations, frailties and hair-pulling moments on what they are willing to give because of greed, vengeance and sacrificial love.Swerving from the musty weep fest trademark of melodrama, “Mask” raised its fight club banner through lies, devious plots, and ruthless counter attacks for reasons of being blindly in love and the thirst to achieve a payback.

We have a solid cast who rose up to the occasion and gave meaningful portrayals to the very best of the wicked side and better versions of their characters. What drew me most about “Mask” is the impeccable showing of the four main leads linked by painful love, betrayal and blood ties. The supporting leads’ love story though not hitting a poignant and meaningful commitment in the end was messy and created a lingering impact of that definitive question on how much can someone go in the name of love. I like how Ji Sook transitioned her image from a total push-over to a woman who knows her worth. Her character as a focal point of the story pushed the problem in a coherent challenge where the surrounding people balanced out the struggle between the good and the evil.

I enjoyed the theatrics and the melodrama clichés because “Mask” in its entirety was not sporadically sketched and was focused to the penultimate closure. I like it when dramas are overbearing because there’s an established premise to support it, and that was the case for “Mask”. I got affected on the heavy scenes, but they did not overwhelm me with exhausting episode weep runs.

If you want a serious k-drama watch, then this will fill your craving. The romance, the intrigue, the annoyance, the power plays were well-conceived and executed leaving a sense of fulfilment if you will sit on it for a binge. I even prepared myself with some tissue rolls for the tear party because it was Su Ae and Joo Ji Hoon, but I was put at the edge of my seat because I was cheering earnestly for Ji Sook and how she found her niche and defied her old self to emancipate herself in the villain’s grip and be with the man she loved without secrets and lies.

Oh My Ghost (July 2015 – August 2015)

GENRES: Romance, Comedy, Supernatural

Bright, Cheerful and Feel Good have always been the after effect of an episode dose of Oh My Ghostess for me. Supernatural plot is a make or break deal in kdramas. It needs to be flaunting when the plot needs it, and it needs to see reasons when you over expose it.

I like the richness of the father-daughter filial love in the story as it literally transcended the after life. I like how cheeky and sweet Sun Woo was at the same time, his reactions were adorable. I like how Park Bo Young was able to differentiate Na Bong Sun and Shin Soon Ae’s characters to fit in with the way the actual Soon Ae was playing in the story. I like how the rom-com elements fused well with the metaphysical plot of the story by making the love leads face their issues straight on and seeing the reasons right away. Every main character in this drama has his own story that the love line was not the main thing that got me hooked with it. It was how each character’s story along with the conflicts that entwined them brought the love story closer and concluded the conflicts neatly.

It was the most consistent romantic-comedy for 2015, yes even with the slight tragic plot. The chemistry of the love couple was impeccable that all the followers of this drama would agree how Bong Sun and Sun Woo made our heart fluttered with their bipolar-disorder-misguided-romance. It’s hard not to drum your feet on your bed and grin when Sun Woo went to his usual i’m-the-man antics and Bong Sun’s pesky man cravings guided by Soon Ae.

If you are needing a love elixir to boost your already blooming relationship of if you just want a perfect rom-com drama getaway, this one is for you.

Yong Pal (Aug 2015 – Oct 2015)

GENRES: Drama, Romance, Suspense, Medical

Quick-paced and great on cliff-hangers, Yong Pal was almost perfect but it faintly lost balance on its finishing kick.

Yong Pal enticed me with its exciting premise of a Prince charming doctor who saved an heiress in distress medically forced to be on coma by her half-brother who wanted the helm of the big company her father left for her.

Conspiracies and power struggles are fundamental elements necessary to build up a strong melodrama. The heroine has had her fair share of defiance and strength which made her an interesting character. She had a superb interaction with the lead man though I would have wanted some more sweet moments for them after all the predicaments they had. The hero was oh so cool on the onset of the story but his sparkle diminished after the second half when the story’s focus shifted on Yeo Jin. True, he was instrumental all throughout but there were moments when the heroine overshadowed him which I found weird because the drama was titled after him so I was expecting that Yeo Jin’s story is secondary only to his.

I think the conclusion was a useless do-over of the main conflict. It should have ended when she ascended to her position and had all the villains get their sad endings. But the over extension with the same scenario of her being destroyed and by something related to medicine again was a useless move. She already had her redemption so it would have been nice to see her and Tae Hyun just enjoying an uncomplicated life which they both yearned to have.

As a whole I still like the story because it maneuvered with rising excitement as the drama unfolds. It also stuck in the power struggle conflict and the protagonists and villains moved well to the direction of annoying and outwitting each other. The characters were less frills and full of grit. The narrative was simple and yet rich with emotions. Feisty and flowing, all that was missing was a fitting ending.

She Was Pretty (Sept 2015 – Nov 2015)

GENRES: Romance, Comedy

I would consider two themes evident for 2015 in kdramaland… friendship-turned-romance and redeeming-a-woman’s-old-glow. These two were present in the recently concluded love tale of childhood friends turned sweethearts who lost contact for a long while and met again at different expectations and fears more than 20 years after.

“She Was Pretty” was your typical rom-com drama tailored to make you feel giddy and warm. It will excite you while the story unfolds but it’s not something that you will keep dearly in your heart like the rom-com classics. The characters were all amusing in their own right, but I gave Choi Si Won, the biggest applause among the cast for his perfect rendering of the quirky second male lead character. While Park Seo Joon is beautiful and Hwang Jung Eum is at her usual best although with slight hyperactivity, they were able to present a love couple you will root for.

The conflict’s lightness was an affirmative note in the story as it worked on the characters’ connection and sticking on their rational thinking come what may. I felt a bit of annoyance toward Ha Ri, but she beautifully redeemed herself by confronting Hye Jin to stop shielding her from the pain and accept the happiness that she deserved. Neatly narrated, the always encouraging vibe of the heroine carried on sincere lessons about how much pain and understanding you can give to salvage a friendship that is more than a family and how much we have to give it to ourselves the limitless opportunities and love that fate won’t give us right away. Hye Jin just like our usual rom-com lead girls pursued love and dreams the best way she can by not sacrificing the happiness that she can create on her own. With her perfect hero who wanted to support her all the way with her personal bucket list, I witnessed a romance that is soon fading in our generation that is being supportive to our lover’s personal goals while maintaining a relationship dependent to a genuine love and unwavering commitment.

Next to chocolates, honeyed and heart-warming kdrama romcoms can help you survive melancholia and routine weekends. Uncomplicated with its romantic approach, Hye Jin and Sung Joon’s love story will surely hit your love veins.

Bubblegum (Oct 2015 – Dec 2015)

GENRE: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Family

I think out of all friendship-turned-romance dramas this year, Ri Hwan and Haeng Ah’s story in Bubblegum is perfect for 30-ish working people who struggled and are struggling to keep up on the sad truth that dealing with a broken heart and learning to accept a new love have different approaches as you age along. It was such an enamoring narrative that drew strength from the free spirited and natural on screen connection of the lead couple.

It is sadly evident that the conflicts raised in the story were not tied up neatly. It was like probably hoping that Lee Dong Wook princey face can fade away the misses of the drama. It came very strong with how the characters communicated intrepidly and genuinely but fell short because of the wayward movement of the story. It was a case where the beautiful characters were not justified by a well written fiction.

Although it got derailed on the closing episodes and the mom-doesn’t-want-us-to-be-together was misplaced and later on forgotten, I have enjoyed the heartfelt confrontations, the peaceful conversations and the life and love realizations. It was a consoling chronicle until the mom-got-Alzheimer’s plot, and less that annoying cliché, it would have been a perfect melodrama as a whole. It did end up warm and happy for the love birds but the writing was not polished. It was ardent but somehow all over the place. If not for the unfeigned portrayals of the lead couple, I would have given up on it. But because it had me hooked on fast to cheer for the literal written on the stars love for Haeng Ah and Ri Hwan and the blossoming of the romance from the friendship tested through time, I sent them off with a smile on my face. Bubblegum is not a solid offering but it will keep you calm and comforted.

Because it’s the first time (OCt 2015 – Nov 2015)

GENRES: Romance, Comedy, Youth, Drama

Everything about this drama screams about the kind of friendship, worries and love confusions we had in our early 20’s. The story was narrated unadorned but the characters were limned delightfully.

Tae Oh, Song Yi, Ji Ahn, Ga In and Hoon are five childhood friends who have relied to each another while battling the challenges of braving the world where they are expected to face failures and not warranted to give up on it. The age when they have the freedom not to rationalize loving someone, but are restricted to chase their personal dreams because they either doubt themselves or they are forced to go against their will by their families.

These hinged friends experienced life cruelties from their own families and unfortunate events, but they have managed to shelter one another and gave strength to overcome their battles. The story moved in presenting their usual bickerings and fun times and hit the conflict of Tae Oh finally waking up to the truth that he loved his girl best friend even when he finally got his dream girl. No spices. No heaviness. Just culminating to the main lead’s decision to let go of his one sided first love.

Yes I wish it would have been longer but given the simplicity of the plot, it wouldn’t give a justified stretch. It was a nice watch while you are on it, but won’t leave a lingering impact after. But if you want a short, feel-good 20’s drama that you can finish in one sitting on a weekend or when u want to feel distracted, “Because It’s The First Time” would serve the purpose of entertaining you. Sweet and upbeat… I’m sure this friendship story will make you remember those blithe days of being wild, young and free.

Oh My Venus (Nov 2015 – Jan 2015)

GENRE: Romance, Comedy

Forget the grueling gym workout, home yoga sessions and sadness inducing diet plans… Just allot 2 hours in 2 days watching Oh My Venus and you will miraculously lose 10 lbs in 2 weeks. It’s true. No hidden agendas, no diet pills, and no aggravating body pains. Sign up for a 14-day trial period at Coach John Kim’s Venus boot camp and see for yourself what the rest of the women who tried the program have been talking about. *chuckles Seriously now, if they want a solution to the alarming woes of women struggling to keep up with their weight, they should hire So Ji Sub oppa to be their personal trainer and the world will be a better place. *giggles

Oh My Venus went to the typical Korean drama rom-com milieu of a rich heir who fell in love with a normal girl but with a fitness program twist. Kang Joo Eun was a feisty Korean lawyer with a steady long-time boyfriend. She was living a calm life and the only concern she has was her weight loss struggle. She used to be the high school boys’ dream in her hometown Daegu, but life’s complications took over and she failed maintaining her goddess self. She eventually lost her boyfriend to an old chubby law school friend who managed to discard her old fat self.

But seriously, I already outgrew the over-used rich guy-normal girl love story setting, but for the lightness and the girly-drooling moments, I would forgive the shallow conflict of this drama. Oh well and because anything is forgivable with So Ji Sub oppa in it. But it would have been nice if they push it to Joo Eun’s initial dream to recover her old Venus self. Putting that Young Ho’s family’s company problem conflict was a bit awkward for the plot. It was not fitting. Since they presented Young Ho’s broken self, I think they should have followed that lead. There’s a lot of emotional struggles for couples in their 30’s because most tend to not unpack their baggages so they could have circled in their plot. They could have lengthened Joo Eun’s rally to win Young Ho’s rich family to make the drama even more sassier and feel good. But anyway, I got what I bargained for, if not for Joo Eun and Young Ho’s chemistry I would have really pouted.

I want to commend on the show’s drive to encourage women with weight worries to lighten up and push themselves to be even more disciplined in following their fitness programs as it would be a propelling force to reclaim their confidence and to live a robust life. If you can get a supportive partner/boyfriend with that then you are definitely on the right track. With ample cutesy love scenes and charming on screen adorable couple, this rom-com offering will wear out a week’s work stress. If you want an uncomplicated blithe and feel good love drama, this will definitely satisfy your craving. Add So Ji Sub on the side, and boy it’s definitely a winner all throughout.

Reply 1988 (Nov 2015 – Jan 2015)

GENRES: Romance, Comedy, Family, Friendship

They say that as you age along, you get more sentimental as you look back on what has happened in your life. Sitting on this neighborhood drama set between 1988 – 1995 made me reminisce the good old days of endearing family love and friendship full of memories and laughter. “Answer me 1988” pays homage to the irreplaceable bliss of being young – of our young dreams and our young love. It gives you a trip to memory lane when technology hasn’t taken over the world yet— when friends meet up at a house to watch movies, to eat and to chat and when romance comes true by heartfelt love declarations, stolen kisses and warm hugs. Hands down to the extent of the research and the meticulously vibrant writing that were fused together to bring up a chronicle that warms the heart and lingers in one’s mind. The setting, side stories and the cast ensemble will make the viewers feel like stepping to a time-warping machine and bringing out the best memories we could ever have in our lives.

One of the many things I loved in this show was the genuine on-screen bond of the cast giving life in the best possible imagination of the sketched characters in the story. There was no passerby among the cast. All have contributed to an almost perfect depiction of how uncomplicated life then. With neighbors living up to become a functioning support group with their fellow parents whose dreams were mainly directed to the well-being of their children and of children who were pressured to chase their dreams so as to make their parents proud. That is definitely not the case today with the internet controlling human interaction. People will choose to just browse on the superficial social media status of their family and friends than to take time to catch up with them in person. Another wonderful feature evident to all Reply-dramas would be the building up of the romance which has been fixed in presenting a love triangle and would always break the viewers’ hearts as they want both guys to get the same girl they were chasing. I was Team Taek-i all throughout. Who wouldn’t fall for Taek-i’s puppy face? I just really go for cute nerds who are clueless in life but advances strong when the situation required them to go for their one great love and Taek-i rose to the occasion by waiting for the right time and seizing the moment without looking back. Jung–hwan had his fair share of sweet moments capping up with that heartbreaking love proposal practice which Duk-seon never realized to be what really was in Jung Hwan’s heart.

But the one great love lesson learned from JungHwan-Dukseon-Taek love triangle is to not blame timing or fate for your one great love to happen. Taek-i braved the odds and defied a 20 year friendship and sealed every love he had for Dukseon in a heart-stopping kiss because he wanted to know right at that moment if there is just not a chance but if love was really there for both of them. It’s not just knowing that love is there, it is being in absolute certainty that both of you feel the same way. I only have the very best things to say for the neighborhood I grew fond watching, for the childhood buddies who defined lifetime friendship and for the sincere love that bloomed from the purest friendship and memories. Reply 1988 was a great spectacle to seal K-drama parade of 2015 and I can only hope that the writer won’t get tired of delving on nostalgic premise like this.

Reply 1988 is on my top 3 dramas for 2015 because of its brilliant use of sweet melancholia and sending the followers back to their very own youth, like it did to me. It made me want to pay a short visit to the street I grew up with and reminisce the times when I hang out with my childhood friends to play traditional local games. It made me glad that most of my precious memories were not digitally induced as is the case of the youth nowadays. And it reminded me to still go for the purest romance I can ever have that won’t make use much of the world- wide web and social media. The ever present humor, the love stories and the amazing neighborhood are surely a quick relief for life stress. Reply 1988 is a strip of mementos any person with a euphoric youth can relate to. I strongly vouch for this drama if you have a weekend to spare.

Time for my quick musings on the highly-anticipated korean drama of 2015 with powerhouse cast who helped surged high ratings even if mostly variety show regulars and loyal hallyu fans are really the drawer of numbers of it.

The mixture of the inside production world of variety shows and the characters’ stories were nicely blended but it was the diversity and chemistry of the characters pierced my kdramaaddict heart.

Dorky Baek Seung Chan knew he has brains but opted to use it to follow the first woman who made his heart throb to work at the variety show department of a broadcasting network. Unfortunately for him the noona his heart beats for likes another senior PD (production director) Ra Joon Mo who is besties with Tak Ye Jin who accidentally caused a minor bump on Seung Chan’s father’s car.

The accident caused them to get closer as partial payments of the damage happened requiring them to meet up regularly with Ye Jin using her seniority to make Seung Chan ran errands for him. Unlucky Seung Chan landed to the dying 2Days1Night team which needed reincarnation to improve the ratings.

Known for being hot tempered Ye Jin spearheads the Music Bank team where she got an unpleasant encounter with a famous primadona singer, Cindy, but for the show to go on they acquiesce on the proper clothing or so Ye Jin thought, and the show went on with Cindy defying Ye Jin’s wish.

Baek Sung Chan chanced upon Cindy on a rainy day and let her borrow the company’s umbrella but reminded her to return it to the lobby under his employee name. Pressured from her busy schedule Cindy’s Sauron’s eyes mostly direct at her oppa manager who has to take the top star tantrums thrown to him by Cindy almost everytime. Time is ticking for 2Days1night staff to come up with a let’s-do-this-or-we-will-be-axed plan. With Seung Chan’s analytical research he scored “lovers themed” format which Joon Mo initially booed but was agreed upon by the higher directors.

To proceed with the show’s survival plan they have to notify the current members that the season will end. The bad news delivery was almost successful but Seung Chan who was tasked to notify the most senior actress wasn’t able to extend the news thus earning a huge disappointment to the veteran actress who felt disrespected.

After an ugly closing party 2D1N team moved on to hurdling the completion of the new cast. When the regular team members ran out of ideas they asked Seung Chan, and he cluelessly suggested Cindy to the teams -whats-wrong-with-this-kid faces but they let him go with his plan.

Seung Chan went to visit Cindy and raised their proposal on how joining a variety show is beneficial for her because her connection with the viewers will be solidified as she will be seen in images closer to typical people. While in the middle of luring Cindy, the witch CEO of the talent agency burst in and refused strongly. Seung Chan’s unfazed attitude towards witch CEO had Cindy saw Seung Chan at a different light and when Joon Mo marched to haul his newbie after learning he went to Cindy’s company and adding icy replies to witch CEO, Cindy has made up her mind that she will join the tv show.

And yes she did. Seung Chan piqued Cindy’s interest without him realizing it. While the pop idol grew fond of him, Seung Chan was also falling in love with Ye Jin who was in a complicated emotion with Joon Mo.

Feeling her top talent is already raising a rebellion, Cindy’s agency head retaliated and has slowly reducing her top idol perks and eventually ruining her reputation. But with the help of Joon Mo and Ye Jin who retrieved an old off site interview, they were able to defend the fabricated attempt to ruin Cindy’s career.

Ye Jin and Joon Mo also confronted their feelings towards each other and sealed the binding love they mistook as friendship.

Seung Chan failed another chance at love but he gained valuable friendship that will last for a lifetime.

For people expecting Kim Soo Hyun being captured in romantic moments, you won’t expect it in this drama so be prepared. Nevertheless I think for legit kdrama followers you will get what you bargain for in this drama.

It’s how we root for Alice in Wonderland and love seeking Disney princesses all at the same time. “Producers” came up in a very interesting format incorporating the variety show world in a drama attack. To achieve that you have to even out the laughter you get from the variety show and the valuable content you should give to the audience.

And I immensely enjoyed the lessons focused in every episode which were derived from the variety program production world. It gave meaningful life lessons and pointed out the challenges and limitations of human nature.

When joined together the four main leads were a delightful watch, even so in their personal struggles.

Seung Chan is a reminder of any person who was trying to find his niche in the corporate scene regardless if the motivation is absurd, like in his case to follow his first love. He is a reminder of the extent on how much we can persevere and how trying a shot on everything is better than being coward to take a chance on it.

Ye Jin is a reminder of how even a person with the coldest exterior has a warm spot hidden in her. Of a person who would be patiently waiting for the love she yearned for than waste her time to nonsense.

Joon Mo is a reflection of those times when we built our character through standing firm with our principles and defying the norms for change to happen.

Cindy represented each one of us in our highest peak, when we hit a slump, and when we bounce back from it.

As I religiously watch 2D1N, I easily grasped the intentions and love the executions all throughout. True, I might have wished for more love screentime but it superbly fed me stories that I have been on at some point of my life.

The engrossing 12 episodes will leave you lessons that basic self-help books have already vaguely discussed. A breather from rom-com and melodramas, Producers will strip any work related stress you are having if you give it a chance.

It might be the most unconventional modern romance drama I have ever seen but it has such a very affecting and unique story given that sickness in k-dramaland usually involves amnesia or anything fatal. Perhaps it comes with me being at my 30’s too that I don’t like being given tailored romantic dramas with the usual illness premise that is sometimes really tiring to watch. Sure I did enjoy “Fated To Love You” because it followed all the bullet points needed for a rom-com drama, but I’ll be placing Hae-soo and Jae-yeol’s love story as my favorites this year tied with the magical chemistry-filled connection of Do Min-joon and Cheon Song-yi in You From Another Star.

A famed fiction writer Jang Jae-yeol moved to his house he rented out when his crib required renovation. There he met two psychiatrists and a psychiatric patient with Tourette syndrome living in the most entertaining and reckless fashion that totally deviated from his being neat freak living given his obsessive-compulsive disorder. Plot got meatier when the inevitable connection of Jae-yeol to the virgin psychiatrist, Hae-soo, who just recently broken up with her cheating boyfriend grew so strong and mutual to the surprise of both parties with extreme perception differences.

Just when both of them surrendered to the idea that yes indeed they were in love, Jae-yeol’s childhood trauma matured resulting to “you-and-me-and my-schizophrenic-self” conflict that has made Hae-soo’s mother revolt on their relationship after suffering all her life taking care of her invalid husband. Jae-yeol while struggling to accept his sickness resorted to pushing his heroine away, but ended up realizing that he needed her while trying to reconcile his life.

The dots connecting the characters in small groups are as functional as when you view the cast as a whole. The friendship circle of the psychiatrists presenting a utopian human interaction that doesn’t follow bias and excess baggages was a delightful package that has driven the deft writing of the storyline. Jae-yeol’s emotionally wounded family was a picture of how even the most dysfunctional family need one another to heal each other’s wound while Hae-soo’s misplaced hatred with her mother’s infidelity that helped sent her to medical school has created a scar inside her which her professional self can’t even cure

True this might not appeal to hopeless romantics, but I’m sure everyone who has felt that moment when they give everything because of love would surely love this amazing story which I will be happily placing in my all-time favorites.

“It’s okay that’s love” is just how relationship realities are translated in a cherished, ardent, unadulterated, lingering, failing, and blissful TV drama scenes. The last 4 episodes has had me at my knees clutching my pillow, trying to subdue the emotional outburst from a beautiful and heartfelt thread of painful and fervid love moments that cut deep in my heart and my very own memories of how it felt to love someone deeply without holding back.

Seamless and unfeigned, it progressed from warm to romantic to sacrificial to against-all-odds and eventually to you-were-meant-for-me. I saw all the faces of love tackled bravely and painfully in this love story.

Without annoying third parties and excessive misunderstanding scenes, I grew fond of all the characters while enjoying a love narrative which took a different approach to defy rom-com rules by presenting the genuine feel of being with someone… the scare, the heart flutters, the denials and the bliss.

The fate of a successful romance lies not on how much effort each other has to put on to keep the love going because love is always never enough… it is always the choice to love someone that keeps a relationship endure.

While my entire stay in kdramaland for 2013 was not as faithful as I have been for 2012, I enjoyed it just the same, and I even added one drama to my all time personal favorites. I hope I can find time next year to wrap up all my half-ways and quarterly done series reviews before 2014 first quarter wanes.

The deft writing and skillful directing of Nine Time Travels was a runaway hit for me sending me to pulsating “damn-this-drama-is-so-good moments. There was no wasted episode and the characters and the time-voyaging plot harmoniously achieved an almost perfect production where conflicts and loose ends are tied and untied all throughout the story and then managed to climax in a euphoric scale where I was left marveling and renewing my kdrama addiction contract yet again.

The ghost-seeing heroine and her adorable shield chaebol heir managed to etch their drama poster to my wall of kdrama favorites. Joong-won and Tae-yang has had me really enjoyed the feeling of being in love just by watching how their romance blossomed. True, that there were moments when the plot was trying to catch up with the romance but Master’s Sun notched a fun and yet epic love story of Harry&Sally proportion. Refreshing and caffeinated, you will find yourself loving the main couple here.

Reply 1994 worked its way to me and never looked back after once it felt that I’m hooked and addicted. This drama rounded up the remaining spot of my top 3 dramas this year alongside Nine and Master’s Sun. There’s just so much warming and reassuring feeling I felt while staying hooked at the cast ensembles and each of their stories. And while I’m still waiting for Na-jung’s guess my eventual husband contest, I vouched that men and women of my age would really enjoy it as it is a reminder of us 10 years ago. Sweetly nostalgic, I highly recommend this in your watchlist.

I also enjoyed the love tearjerkers early this year… I Miss You That Winter The Wind Blows and When A Man Loves had made me forcedfully used up tissue rolls with the amount of weeping I spent stalking them through ups and downs, craziness and annoyance and heart flutters and bliss.

I am sorry I didn’t really enjoy I Hear Your Voice and Gu Family book. The former didn’t hit the yellow chakra in me, the latter being not able to sustain the hype of the promising storyline. Heirs was surely overrated but I loved the two lead boys there, and the pantry kiss though the lead girl acted stoic was one of the best kiss Lee Min Ho has ever given in his career. Marry Him If You Dare less the wtf ending would have been nice. I mean I was all waiting for Mirae’s choice, but at the last minute the writer gave me the power to choose for Mirae, what’s that about?

Joo Won didn’t wait for next year and worked on redeeming the disappointing and madly done Level 7 Civil Servant through his savant Good Doctor character which made me feast on heartwarming feelings and some new found medical knowledge. I consider this a family drama that your mom would surely love. Another drama mom would like is School 2013, although centered in the High Schooler’s life, the friendship and simply narrated but neatly acted story was a winning performance.

Safely finishing their dramas, Cha Tae Hyun oppa lifted Jeon Woo Chi to a decent ending as my crush Yoo Ah In melted me over and over again to his King Sukjong role with the infamous Joseon concubine Jang Ok Jung. Show me some magic and Tae Hyun oppa’s impeccable comic and winning performance and I’m on the ride babe. And that swaying from the history book depiction of Jang Ok Jung story admittedly diminished my once felt angst towards Joseon’s femme fatale. After all I’m a sucker of a two-way romance.

Mandate of Heaven following a Joseon fugitive plot who proved his innocence while saving his sick daughter against the court and Royal family conspiracies and the niftily done King of dramas which reminded me painfully of my once dream to become a TV drama writer were bubble wrap dramas which comforted me and made me feel good after watching them.

Cheongdamdong Alice, Dating Agency: Cyrano, and Monstar gave me the after sweet taste of an afternoon in a park munching ice cream and cotton candy while The Great Seer and Flower-boy next door fairly amused me but certainly will be those forgettable dramas on my list this year.

Two Weeks and Heartless City were the underrated but rockstars and dark horses in kdramaland for me this year. The action packed thrilling plot had me most of the time on the edge of my seat anticipating the next badass move and powerplays that will unfold.

Unfortunately I’m still trying hard to finish War of Flowers, Empire of Gold, Secret Love and Empress Ki so I can’t say much about them yet. You From Another Star, Pretty Boy, Golden Rainbow, Miss Korea, Prime Minister and I will be on my 2014 list as it crosses over the Horse year.

True this year was not as fabulous as last year. It was mostly mediocre and passing dramas but there are a few good finds and 3 stellar dramas for me. As my love time can only permit me for this quick recap, I am closing this with my pink lightsaber favorites this year.

Once in a while a surprisingly good love story would remind me why I became addicted to Korean Romantic Comedies. In the sea of dramas where stories are usually woven from the rich-boy-poor-girl love affair or the male-pretending-lead-girl, a you-and-me-against-the-ghosts love story hit all the romantic nerves in my body even with its comic spooky vibes.

Although there was a lengthening kick in the final stretch, “The Master’s Sun” has given me a lot of elating moments and back-to-when-I-had-my-first-love heart fluttering scenes. In a way the calculated but not false-hope promising story pace has made me join the lead love couple in discovering the reasons why they fell in love with each other alongside why they were in denial and scared to admit it.

What can I say? Hong sisters are back for a cotton candy vengeance. They have created the perfect lead man and heroine to score a romance frequently seen in kdramaland and yet watching them together would make you ask for MORE… It was really an endearing and sweet “I’m-sorry-Abby-for-making-you-watch-BIG-now-drool-at-sojisub oppa” gift by my favorite Korean scriptwriters… The romance was built slowly, surely and strongly… It brought the rich-boy-plain-girl romance in a whole new level as Tae Yang and Joong Won fully understand the extent of how much emotions they can invest to each other. So refreshingly done and yet so polished. I’m running out of adjectives. *wink

A once promising student, Tae Gong-shil, was called “Tae-yang” when she was studying because of her brilliant mind, but she unfortunately met an accident and woke up to a creepy ability. She could see ghost. For years, it caused her to live a hard life as ghost after ghost came to ask favor for their souls to be at peace. Alcohol intoxication is also a no-no because a spirit can take over her body if she’s drunk. She lived as if waking up in a hospital, a jail or even a tomb is normal, until she met the person who will change her life.

A rich chaebol CEO, Joo Joong-won has only been living to make his very rich self even richer. Having an estranged relationship with his father because of a trauma from his past, he has built a cold exterior that no one can get through… until he met her.

In one of Tae-yang’s spirit-favor-operation, she hitched at Joong-won’s car after his driver was blinded when a lightning struck. Not really wanting to give a ride to the weird girl in that stormy night, Joong-won was forced to oblige, when she fearfully screamed when a ghost appeared before her. They stopped at a place to calm down the frightened Tae-yang and when a ghost tried to chase Tae-yang, she realized that when she touches Joong-won, the ghost vanished.

Having found a way to shelter herself from the spirit attacks she so not wanted, she went to Joong-won’s mall to get a cleaning lady job. Tae-yang’s ghost-seeing ability has put her on situations that made her interact with snob Joong-won and without him realizing it, Joong-won fell in love with her because of their casper-ish adventures. Although Tae-yang felt the same way her woes of putting him in danger because of her ability hindered her in staying in his arms.

A romantic comedy needs a “hook factor” to keep a loyal following. At times the story may be incomprehensible and recycled but the lead actor is eye-candy or the acting is mediocre but the story and writing is brilliant and refreshing. Master’s Sun doesn’t fall in any of those categories. It has a solid chemistry from the main lead which made the quirky writing and story appeared like a classic fairy tale.

When you have a stubborn romantic lead man who with-and-without amnesia know how to claim the heart of the woman he loves and a heroine who struggles in confusion to the path on how she is supposed to love her man, it will give you a love tale full of acceptance and understanding. It will inspire you to trust why your heart fell in love with the person and how your mind will be overpowered by reasons.

When I learned that So Ji Sub oppa will be in this drama, it was already a done deal for me even if it would turn out bad, so seeing him make those boyish smile, mischievous smile, flirty smile, melting smile and all the rest of the smiles and grins he made in this drama, I felt my heart-broken self curse was healed. *chuckles The onscreen chemistry with Gong Hyo Jin really worked out well. Her chameleon self can really create a vibrant, lasting character that complements the love tale prince. I gasped, blushed, giggled and cried to the love admittance push-and-pull and jedi-mindtricking by this lead couple.

Master’s Sun has always been consistent with its cliff-hangers and that’s why maybe kdramaland addicts have been raving and buzzing about it. It is so caffeinated like that feeling when you are in the beginning of a relationship when you don’t want a night to end and yet you want another day to begin. This has been making me act like a prisoner marking my calendar, waiting for that day that I know I will be happy. *chuckles

All throughout the series, they have established the main conflict involving Hee-joo while inserting those other ghost cases in building up the circumstances that helped in making Joong-won and Tae-yang get closer and that sweet finale episode sealed this beautiful romance with a passionate kiss. True there were some insertions that didn’t give the answer why it was included, but Joong-won has made me just disregard those lapses. The supporting cast and the side love stories were also neatly included. I am delighted that they didn’t pull a make-believe transition towards its finale. While it went to the amnesia cliché, it didn’t make it like they were stuck somewhere. It went strong to portraying how even without his memories of her, his connection with her is somehow still intact and his reflexes were helping him to fathom what and who he was supposed to be missing.

I am still feeling the after-warmth of Joon-won and Tae-yang’s love story. I did get annoyed at how how she was playing hard to get in the dying episodes, but then I just realized how hard it really is to feel that you don’t deserve someone’s love. Master’s Sun is all I will remember in kdramaland this year. It was a nicely blended romance which showed a love pair growing together while understanding why they both need each other. It was a relationship where the couple did what they can do so that they won’t end up in the position where they will ask “what they could have done”. Being with someone is not half-loving yourself and half-loving him. It should be loving the person with all you can.

It’s amazing how one drama can make me forget all the rest of the bad kdramas this year. I’m still waiting for Heirs and Jun Ji Hyun’s drama, but I have placed Master’s Sun to my top pick this year (waiting for possible company) and included it to my All-time favourites. -jediprincess

Tae-yang escaped Joong-won’s interrogation about her relationship to him by providing him answers to his questions but withdrawing the essentials behind their connection. Without his memory he cannot comprehend how she got closer to him and she explained that she has a special sixth sense that was of value to him but when he got hurt, feeling bad about it, she distanced herself from him. He told her how things happened to him which in his sane mind was unlikely of him to do and yet he did it. He also thought that he is forgetting very important but he can’t piece out the details. He asked her if it was because of her and to evade his instinctive query, she replied that he did forget something and grabbed the cans of beer he left inside her fridge.

Joong-won questioned his uncle about his knowledge about Tae-yang and him and he responded that he can only give him answers based on the rumours about it but of course it was far from what really truly happened between them. Late at night Tae-yang and Kang-woo shared some drinks. Kang-woo worried about her situation since her shelter can’t remember her and she might be scared again because of the ghosts. Tae-yang replied that she won’t be scared anymore because when she saw Joong-won’s wandering soul in the hospital that day she was so scared that nothing can top up that fright anymore. She was already resigned to not dragging Joong-won in her life anymore. She told him about her plans to go back to school asa her ghostly friends can help her out anyway to test questions. Kang-woo quipped that since he’s good at protecting, he will be protecting her and they raised their cans to cheer each other up.

Joong-won meanwhile was still in deep contemplation about his situation. He muttered that something felt missing in his body which of course all of us know mean that he’s feeling empty.

The next morning Madam Shaman visited tae-yang and reminded her of their contract in saving Joong-won and as it turned out Tae-yang became her ghost bounty hunter. She was tasked to gather dead unmarried single women for her after-life match making business so off she played tomb-raiding while holding on Joong-won’s necklace everytime she gets scared.

While Yi-ryun was being convinced by her manager about a Hollywood project, she saw Tae-yang with Madam Shaman speaking with clients. She talked with Kang-woo about her possible shoot outside the country and mentioned how she saw Tae-yang with a witch-looking ajumma.

Kang-woo deduced who the weird looking ajumma was and asked Tae-yang about it. She confirmed what he learned and told him not to worry as Madam Go knew her pretty well.

At work, Joong-won while browsing his voice recorder heard Tae-yang’s recording when she took in Secretary Kim’s post for a day. Bothered by things always popping up linking him to Tae-yang, he went to her room and stared at an empty space which was seen by his aunt.

Tae-yang and Madam Shaman went to meet a client who was bothered by his dead ex-gf showing in his dreams. He is getting married soon so he doesn’t want to be bothered by it. At the same restaurant, Hana and Joong-won’s aunt waited for Joong-won for their lunch. Joong-won arrived and saw Tae-yang happily chatting with the client confirming her knowledge of his dead ex-gf so he pressed himself to their meeting. He touched her and the ghost disappeared so she scolded him for touching her when she’s working but Joong-won scared the ajussi to run and get lost if he wanted to be safe. He proceeded to their lunch table and again looked at Hanna’s sun necklace wondering why he was so drawn to it.

Aunt asked Madam Shaman a favour about Joong-won’s ghost thus Tae-yang was summoned to their lunch. Aunt asked if she sees a ghost in the room and Tae-yang confirmed it and both Hanna and Joong-won’s faces were startled.

“Cha Hee-joo ssi. I don’t want to see you anymore. So please tell us now, who was the person who made you die. I will tell him.”

Joong-won stood up, touched her and made Hee-joo disappear. Tae-yang again reminded him not to touch her when she’s working. He grabbed her to talk outside and again denounced the reason why she has to let him go. She warned him not to touch her again.

Secretary Kim figured out what happened to his niece Hanna and realized his new identity as well. Kang-woo provided Joong-won with the evidence about Hee-joo’s twin so Joong-won learned about him trying to look for Hee-joo’s accomplice.

The ajussi who stabbed Joong-won went to Kingdom Mall looking for Tae-yang but was halted by Kang-woo’s martial arts moves. He pleaded to Joong-won how he didn’t mean what he did but necause he covered himself to Tae-yang, he got hit instead. Joong-won can’t understand why he was willing to die for her but Kang-woo confirmed and told him that he was willing to die just to save her.

Joong-won went crazy trying to solve his memory-loss-jigsaw-ouzzle and even resorted to the ghosts at Tae-yang’s used-to-be room for answers.

Tae-yang asked Madam Go if she knew how she obtained her powers and she responded that it could be because of her soul that wandered for 3 years after an accident. Then we see Tae-yang’s ghost-coffee-loving-friend talking with a man who appeared to be also seeing ghosts. What??? We only have 3 episodes and we have another male contender for the heroine’s heart?

Aunt asked Joong-won to become Hanna’s partner at an event. His uncle told him that he was refrained from sharing anything about Tae-yang but he’ll do it now. He told Joong-won how Tae-yang went to the hospital everyday, crying about his situation. He also confirmed how his heart stopped and he literally died and came back to life. He gave him an indirect advice that the sparkling-rich woman his aunt kept pushing to him could make a good life but he was willing to throw his life for ghost-seeing-poor Tae-yang. That was the best line uncle said so far in this series.

Tae-yang went to Joong-won’s office thinking it was Secretary Kim who summoned her but it was in fact Joong-won. They were on for confrontation #3. Joong-won began his predicament by stating how he has been trying to grasp what happened to him and it has always been pointing to her. He presented evidence and questioned Tae-yang like he was a lawyer but Tae-yang while admitting that she saw his soul, didn’t tell him what he told her when he vanished.

Kang-woo also concluded Hanna’s identity and was about to report it to Secretary Kim but the latter conveyed first his relationship to Hee-joo and Hanna.

Tae-yang and Madam Go went to their client’s wedding and Tae-yang finally convinced the dead ex-gf to let go of him since he is now married. They saw Joong-won and Hanna on their way to attend an event. Uncle mentioned how he saw Tae-yang in the lobby but Joong-won ignored it. He told him how Tae-yang was bound to serve Madam Go for some weird contract. Joong-won didn’t waste time and confronted Madam Shaman about it. She asked if he’s interested to restore his memory but he dismissed it by saying he just wanted to know what the contract was but she hinted anyway that he just have to remember something he forgot before he woke up. He still insisted about the worth of compensation and not wanting to go further with her taunting to restore his memory. He muttered that all has been lost and he doesn’t want to dwell on it. Madam Go responded how Tae-yang has been taking all the pain for him and he replied how he knew it that’s why he wanted to do his share. He asked her how much the contract cost one last time and Madam Go replied how Tae-yang gave all her self so he can start calculating on that note.

Mind-exhausted to the puzzle he has been trying to solve, he leaned on the door and remembered how he stared at Tae-yang one time while she was resting at her office room. His aunt and Hanna noticed him and they asked if he’s okay. He excused himself and told them how he was not really feeling well. He was again drawn by Hanna’s sun necklace. He moved his hand trying to scoop something to hold and then voila! His memory of the necklace came back. He told them that he will look for something he lost. Hanna tried to halt him and asked if her necklace was not the one he lost and he replied that it was the same but hers was not genuine.

Tae-yang pleaded to Hee-joo not to appeal her request anymore as she doesn’t care about Joong-won anymore. She was about to throw Joong-won’s sun necklace but he got in time and stopped her from doing it.

“Did you really think you could do without your safety shelter?”

My Thoughts:

This episode was a stubborn episode, until the dying minutes when Joong-won recovered his forgotten memories, the characters kept circling about “his stubborn urge to unravel the mystery of Tae-yang’s connection to him” and “her stubborn self denying his probing and still sacrificing their happiness because of her scary thought that she’ll put him on danger”.

If the man-seeing-ghost will be adding some jealousy push for Tae-yang and Joong-won I would love it. I would like to see how Joong-won will take it knowing that the other man is at an advantage since he can relate to Tae-yang’s 6th sense very well. For all we know he could be Tae-yang’s boyfriend while her soul was wandering for 3 years and when he was resurrected, he waited for the perfect timing to get their love story another chance in the real world. I’ll stop now, my imagination is running wild for endless possibilities.

3 episodes left and any moment they will reveal the truth about Hee-joo and Hanna’s crime.

Joong-won who has always been pushing what he felt towards Tae-yang again did it one more time this episode that I felt like it’s also a refreshing thing in kdramas when you have a stubborn romantic lead man who not even an amnesia was able to stop him from claiming the woman in his heart.

I see a very exciting episode 15 coming up as with his memory back I know Joong-won will not back down to convince Tae-yang just as how she should not be stubborn to think that she will bring misfortune to him.

So they settled with the amnesia excuse. I said I won’t whine. So okay. I’m not feeling better, I have exhausted all the So Ji Sub videos I can get from the video sites to help me with my meds, so I will just let this one cliché pass… plus I felt that they used it wisely anyway.

****Summary****Tae-yang remembered the shaman woman who told her about the risk of her abilities and when to seek her guidance. The shaman woman went Ursula and agreed to help her by waging her ghostly power. They summoned back Joong-won to the living by using the sun necklace he gave her but calling him back will also erase the memory of him. So now they use the necklace not for getting back the memory but erasing it, although I might think that it will still be useful in this drama’s conclusion.Joong-won woke up and when his aunt realized he has lost all his memories of Tae-yang. He can only remember that stormy night when he taunted the thunder to strike him. Aunt took that opportunity and asked her husband and Secretary Kim not to mention Tae-yang to Joong-won. When he went home, he saw the wolf/sheep books that he was trying to read and was surprised when along with his amnesia his dyslexia was miraculously healed.Bored at home he visited his mall and crossed path with Tae-yang… The bench ajussi ghost tried to help by moving the trash can so Joong-won noticed Tae-yang’s back but his aunt saw what’s going to happen and so she revert his attention.When Secretary Kim mentioned him receiving a special public duty award, he cannot fathom the heroic acts he was told he has done lately. He stepped out of his room and even his reflexes are pointing to him in seeking the most important person his memory cannot remember.He entered Tae-yang’s room and again was surprised to learn he created that office. Tae-yang was packing her things up with Kang-woo and chose not to face him.Knowing how Tae-yang’s heart was breaking, Kang-woo suited our favourite second lead costume and assured her that he will be there to protect her, but she politely declined his offer as she still thinks that being close to her might also put him in danger. Yi-ryung showed up at Tae-yang’s rooftop place but Kang Woo was able to stop her from her potential bullying. Bravely and openly showing her one-sided adoration towards Kang-woo, he thanked her for giving him an idea to become diligent with what he feels for Tae-yang.While on her car, Yi-ryung was having disturbing thoughts about Kang Woo and Tae-yang and over at Joong-won’s place his family was having dinner with Hana. He asked his aunt about the books and her husband slipped nthat it could probably related to his someone special. But quick to the charade they were playing Hana remarked that she owned it and left it by accident last time she was introduced to the housekeeper. Aunt and Ha Na are pushing for a possible match with Joong-won and our poor heroine found the same books at a store and remembered how Joong-won told her he read that book and it caused his head to burst.Yi-ryung took action to mark her man and so she set up a date for Joong-won and Tae-yang at the place he declared his love for her. While Tae-yang waits for Yi-ryung a ghost popped up but Joong-won also approached and calmed her down, and his immediate touch made the ghost vanished. And at this point I was really feeling the pain, she must have been feeling. She knew it was Joong-won’s touch that made her feel safe but she’s choosing not to make him remember her because she was stuck on that notion that she’s putting him on danger. Joong-won quipped that he noticed her because they were reading the same book and mentioned how he felt something intense as well when he touched her, he asked if she felt it too, but she still didn’t face him and sobbed silently.Joong-won contemplated about his shelter-incident with Tae-yang but he can’t piece out when he felt that.Secretary Kim asked permission from Joong-won for a vacation. It was also revealed his relationship with twins Hee-joo and Hana. He was in contact with Hana but failed to locate Hee-joo when she was still alive. And as we all know, it was revealed that the twins orchestrated the abduction and when Hee-joo died, Hana survived with the jewelry ransom.The brother-kids at Tae-yang’s study motel building went to seek their toy prizes and again surprised amnesiac Joong-won why he gave out his business cards and shop-all-you-want promise to those kids.And finally at the dying minutes of this episode the kids reminded him of they helped him read and how he was a special person to someone. He asked the name of that person again and they said her name Tae Gong Shil/Tae yang.Then we see Tae-yang coming back home with a guest ghost – Cha Hee-joo. She asked her to lend her body if she loved Joong-won. But then Joong-won came, and touched her so Hee-joo wanished.

“On that stormy night, who are you? Are you Tae-yang?”

QUICK MUSINGS

On that stormy night, who are you? Are you Tae-yang?And they left us hanging on that question? Depending on Tae-yang’s answer and Joong-won’s response after her reply. We don’t know yet if he is feigning ignorance that his memory came back after the kids helped him tried to remember her. I drew out these possible scenarios because I have to put it in writing so I won’t be thinking about it until next week. The final 4 episodes I think would be very meaty, and I’m happy that the amount of sigh I made while waiting for this episode to be subbed paid off… calmed me and relieved my week-old broken heart.

Tae-yang confirms + Joong-won still has amnesia = Joong-won will ask questions until he gets the answer to all his questions

Tae-yang denies + Joong-won recovered his memory = Joong-won will push for their love once more

Tae-yang denies + Joong-won still has amnesia = Joong-won might just go with his aunt’s plans and not push to uncovering that “something” missing in his life.

Tsss I am now even using Math because of this drama. *chuckles

If all these scenarios won’t happen, and Joong-won remained amnesiac, then the surprise Hee-joo’s visit to Tae-yang will play an important role, if she will show up again and Tae-yang agrees. I think her ghostly self realized that it was stupid to protect her evil twin so she will use Tae-yang’s body to warn Joong-won about it.I want to watch a lot of heart fluttering “Joong-Won-Tae-Yang moments”. Who doesn’t? There will be I think one final conflict that will close Hee-joo’s case once and for all and we don’t know yet if the evil shaman woman will show up again to make Tae-yang fulfil her promise.

Master’s Sun has always been consistent with its cliff-hangers and that’s why maybe kdramaland addicts have been raving and buzzing about it. It is so caffeinated like that feeling when you are in the beginning of a relationship when you don’t want a night to end and yet you want another day to begin. This has been making me act like a prisoner marking my calendar, waiting for that day that I know I will be happy. *chuckles

This episode surprised me because whilst it went to the amnesia cliché, it didn’t make it like they were stuck somewhere. It went strong to portraying how even without his memories of her, his connection with her is somehow still intact and his reflexes were helping him to fathom what he was supposed to be missing. Given his curious self, I’m sure he will get to the bottom of it soon. When I say “soon”, I’m hopeful, it’s the next episode. I just wished that Tae-yang will stop blaming herself and also push herself to him instead of nursing a broken heart that isn’t supposed to be broken anyway.

I am liking that all throughout the series, they have established the main conflict involving Hee-joo while inserting those other ghost cases in building up the circumstances that helped in making Joong-won and Tae-yang get closer and I am confident that the trajectory of the finale will be awesome and full of love. ^_^

There’s no denying that so far this year, this is by far the best laid drama for me to watch. I’ve been in a variety of happy emotions lately because of Tae-yang and Joong-won’s love story. Can you be extended forever? Let’s make Joong-won acquire a superpower to hear Tae-yang’s thoughts and then Tae-yang will be possessed by Jang Ok Jung’s ghost and agumiho family book will be required to save her. To get the book, 9 incense sticks will be needed to travel at the real and imaginary world to seek the help of Jeonwoochi, and the fugitive genius doctor of Joseon. Joong-won will be advised that a cotton candy kiss will make Ok Jung’s ghost vanished. aigoo! It’s amazing how one drama can make me forget all the rest of the bad kdramas this year. *giggles

I know it’s just an epiphany… It will be Tae-yang’s realization to disregard all her inhibitions and just go on a come-what-may love. Plus why would they kill Joong-won oppa who was a revelation, a prophecy and currently every girl’s dream in kdramaland these days? It’s time for Tae-yang to take off her “Jesus Save Me” house dress to revive her man. *chuckles

If truth be told, I’m scared, I will be really disappointed if Hong sisters would be too daring to conclude such a beautiful rom-com following straight the ending of this episode. It’s rom-com, if my favorite lead man this year will die, it’s not funny even if it is sort of coinciding to the death theme of the story. I still want an episode 16 ending in a kiss between two mortals and not between a ghost-seeing-heroine who got lucky because she can have an after-life love. So I am crossing my fingers, if they will resolve in “heroine’s-dream-we’re-just-kidding-Joong-won-is-alive” kick off for episode 13, I won’t whine. But I hope it would be deft enough to appease my heart who stopped for a bit worrying if a possible mental breakdown for the writers are in the horizon.

If this drama will pull off a not-make-believe transition towards its finale, it will TOP my ALL TIME rom-com Kdrama of choice. So please don’t break my heart.

Dokko Jin was a long lost demi god sent to the world to become that Hallyu star Uncle Zeus promised me to have.

The Greatest Love aka Best love was the wackiest, quirkiest, most charming and most adorable Kdrama of 2011 for me. This has one of the strongest love triangle I’ve seen to date, and I was switching from Dokko Jin and Pil Joo, but then eventually Dokko Jin won me over.

This is my favorite battle-for-the-leading-lady’s-heart showcase, as the two lead men warmed my love veins with their creativity to let Ae Jung noticed how much they love her.

The love drama staged in the showbiz land exhibited a top actor in his prime and a struggling actress who used to be from a famous girl group but was condemned unfairly by the public’s judgment. In a series of forming-a-love-story event, their lives sort of crossing their paths every now and then and before he knew it, the cutely egoistic and blithely mischievous Dokko Jin’s protective instinct was awakened by the pure, sometimes vulnerable, but never failing to be optimistic and to trust in life character of Ae-jung.

I love Hong sisters dramas because it promises laughter, memorable love tale and humor everytime… I guess those are their trademarks and they were able to extend those points through Ae-jung, Dokko Jin and Pil-joo.

A fast paced, consistently vivacious episodes can make me addicted and dreamy over a drama, it can even cause me to skip work if I deem it necessary to worry about the fate of my love couple of the month over explaining credit card charges. “Best Love” was able to pull this state from me when it was running… it was like a heroin disarming me from earthly life making me thrive inside my protective romance bubble.

I don’t have issues with the directing because I like things short, simple and sweetly done, and I believe they were able to make the most out of the plot and the conflicts to sustain a fame defying love to claim a damsel in distress because of misplacing trust.

Pil-joo will be one of my favorite second leads along with “Pillar”. He fought well and he could have been deserving of the lead girl’s love but of course his role was to make Ae-jung determine which love will make her happy and that the love she could need will never be more than what she deserves.

Dokko Jin was a complex character, he brought out so many emotions from me, each better than what he previously portrayed. He was a bundle of laughter and a handful of bliss. He was erratic when he was in he’s child self and yet made me swoon when he assumed being a man. Cha Seung Won is steamingly hot, he gets interesting and god-like in each persona he takes.

Ae-jung was a revelation. I read that she was good, and the drama cemented that claim. Her acting skills were just effortlessly good complementing how she dealt with the characters around her. She switched from annoyingly nice, defiant, forebearing to optimistic. She was a mixture of a heroine prototype that should grace the TV screen often to replace those typecast leading ladies who mopes well and will just redeem themselves when two episodes are left on the series.

True to its title, this was a superb love drama. It was satisfying and gratifying. It was one of the best drama offerings of 2011. This was a basket full of romance that cupid especially made for each one of us.